Page 31 of Secret Twins for the Orc

“Thanks,” Ella murmurs, still shuffling the papers in her arms.

“You’re welcome.”

I’m more acutely aware of her beside me than I’ve ever been before. My heart hammers against my ribs.

We descend in silence. The doors open. But when she dips out ahead of me, she drops a pamphlet to the floor, and I scoop it up and stride towards her, touching her shoulder.

“Hm?” She stops and looks over at me. For some reason, I’m incapable of speech, and I hand the brochure over. It’s for the monthly flea market at Heartwood Grove in the center of town this Saturday.

“Oh!” She smiles as she notices what I’m holding. We’ve stopped close enough to the exit that the morning sunlight falls across her face, making her bright blue eyes glow, and I can’t look away.

“Yeah, I was thinking to go this weekend.” She takes the brochure back, her fingers brushing mine with a spark of electricity that she doesn’t appear to notice, as she studies the happy pictures of couples on the front. She starts walking, and I fall into pace beside her. “I wasn’t sure if I would brave it alone, though.”

“I’ll take you,” a quiet voice says, and I wonder who spoke, until her steps slow and she turns to look at me again.

“Really? You want to?”

I open the door for her. “Yes.”

Her smile is quick to warm her face, and she remains outside, haloed by the sun, waiting for me to step out with her.

“I’d love to, Rhokar. Thank you.”

I walk into the light, letting the door swing shut behind me.

“I’ll pick you up.” Someone speaks with my voice again, and all I can do is stare at her in a haze and wonder what’s come over me.

Chapter 12

Ella

I’m still confused, but now I’m at least happily so.

It’s Saturday midday, and Rhokar is due to pick me up any minute now to take me on a date. Or rather, I think it’s a date. It’s probably a date?

I mean, was our dinner on Monday a date? Would it be considered more or less of a date if we factor in the abduction element?

With how hot and cold Rhokar has been, I’m not entirely sure I can confidently interpret his signals… I’m going to go with today maybe potentially being a date, and play it by ear.

Which is all well and fine, but it leaves the matter of what to wear a lot more difficult to decide on. Where is the line that doesn’t try too hard in case it’s not a date, but isn’t so casual that it feels out of place in case it is a date? And what about my hair? Not to mention makeup.

I’ve settled on pale jeans that sit snug around my hips and make my butt look good, a white tank top and a deep blue cotton button up to bring out my eyes, although I’ve left it entirely open and am using it more as a light cardigan than a shirt.

My hair is pulled into an artfully tousled ponytail, and I’ve applied the lightest amount of makeup, filling in my brows, adding blush, and lining my eyes with just a touch of black pencil to make them pop under my mascara.

I’m honestly fussing over my appearance more than I have in a very long time, and I bite my lip as I stare at my reflection, holding small gold hoops to my ears to see if they look good, and balancing from one foot to the other, wearing a different shoe on each foot.

My doorbell rings, and I suppress a squeak—even though I do not squeak—throw the sneaker off one of my feet and shove the earrings on as I hop into my nicer boots.

“Just a sec!” I call as I grab my handbag, doubling back to pick up my forgotten lipstick, quickly popping just a little in the center of my lips before smearing the rest to look like a natural flush, and then nearly tripping over a new toy for my toddlers that arrived this morning. “Nearly ready!”

My door rattles with the sound of impatient knocking next, but I still take the extra few seconds to grab the baby toys and shove them in a cupboard. I am not ready for that conversation yet, not by a long shot. Although, if things go well, hopefully, soon…

“Ella, what are you doing?” Rhokar’s grouchy voice comes muffled through my door as I rush over, and he knocks again. “This isn’t some red-carpet event, for crying out loud. Just answer the door, I’m sure you look…fine…”

I pull open the door, but for a second, I’m struck speechless as I’m faced with a Rhokar wearing dark denim and a tight black t-shirt.

His black hair is up in its customary man-bun, short cropped at the back and sides and swept up on his head, and it suits this more casual look. Both hands are shoved into his jeans pockets, feet firmly planted apart, and I can’t seem to stop my eyes from tracing across his entire body. He looks so much less sharp and imposing out of his business suit, and the contrast to how I’m used to seeing him has me staring.

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